Publication Release: January 23, 2023
Order Now Stories of the American West, Volume 1
Description: Three Western short stories written but unpublished by Rich Roy Thomson (1881-1950) in late 1940s. Prior to Rich’s 20 year career with the Forest Service (including later Grasslands Service), which started in 1907, Rich spent much of his youth in western Colorado, in the 1890s of Aspen during the exciting times of the silver strikes and mining camp Aspen was in those days, and became a renowned cowboy and rodeo star, winning or placing in many regional rodeo competitions, primarily in saddle bronc riding, wild horse racing, and roping competitions. In 1904 he was awarded the title of “Saddle Bronc Champion of the World” in one such competition in Glenwood Springs, CO
In the three short stories Rich provides a snapshot of the life he led. In one of them, a tale of two teens from Aspen, who locate some likely looking gold ore, sheep hunting while away from their normal logging camp duties, and an example of how gold fever can affect a small town.
Another short story details a classic story of a “horse that could not be rode” and a challenge to a drifting cowboy, located near the Grand Mesa area of Colorado. The third story, set in the early 1900s, in the wild country near Meeker, and a young cowboy “wild horse” trapper, who encounters a stranger stopping by his cabin, but is there danger lurking?
After his years working for the federal government, Rich, and his wife Pearl, known to everyone as “Tommy” formed a lifelong family business, based in Glenwood Springs, Colorado that included renting out horses, horse riding lessons, trail rides during the summer in areas that would later be designated Wilderness Areas, mostly within the White River National Forest, and including areas of the later designated Flattops Wilderness, and Maroon Bells \ Snowmass Wilderness areas. Tommy was an integral part of the business teaching many of the women how to ride, on these two week pack trips in the wilderness. During the fall the Thomson’s would often guide hunters in pursuit of Elk and Mule Deer.
When their children (James & Robert) were old enough, they assisted in the family business, especially when not in college or serving their country in the military. This family business continued even after Rich’s death in 1950. After the late 1940s, James pursued a career which culminated with his role as a VP and chief engineer with Stearns & Rogers. Robert continued to run hunting camp operations on a yearly business starting in 1949, even though he remained in the US Navy and Reserves, rising to Lt. Commander, before retiring in the late 1950s. Each year he used his 30 day military leave to make sure it lined up to the planned hunting season in Colorado. Later when Bob and his wife Jeane became successful in the restaurant business, the hunting camp business continued to be a focus of their lives.
Also included in the book, is a previously unpublished article by Rich, about his family experience in developing and running those summer trail rides into the Colorado Wilderness during 1930s and 1940s. The book concludes with an article, written by Daniel Parliman, describing the last Thomson wilderness experience, which describes the 1972 Hunting Camp run by Robert W. Thomson (youngest son of Rich) as witnessed by Daniel Parliman, great nephew of Robert, and great great nephew of Rich. That camp was the last Thomson wilderness camp, as Bob passed on in early 1973 at the young age of 52, and includes some interesting stories of earlier camps. Daniel’s grandfather, Henry DeCinque Sr., was actually Robert Thomson’s brother-in-law, and was one of Thomson’s hunting camp clients, starting in 1949, and for over 20 seasons after that.
Here are a few pictures related to these people and events:
Order Now Stories of the American West, Volume 1